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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Temporary Release of Prisoners.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

1434 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by people in Sligo at the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Sligo who was sentenced to two years in prison in March 2002 for offences relating to stolen Government pay orders, has been seen in public on a number of occasions in the Sligo area; if this person has been given early or temporary release; the basis on which such a release was granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17503/02]

The person referred to by the Deputy was sentenced to a two year prison sentence on 12 March 2002 at Sligo Circuit Court on two counts of handling stolen property and one count of conspiracy to commit a crime. He is currently serving this sentence in the open centre at Loughan House, County Cavan, and allowing for normal remission is due for release on 10 September 2003.

As the Deputy is aware, it is long standing policy not to comment in detail on the sentence management of any individual prisoner. However, my attention has been drawn to a recent newspaper article which alleges that this person received favourable treatment during an escort to facilitate a court appearance and I am prepared to comment on the claims made therein.

The facts of this case are that Sligo Circuit Court issued a witness summons ordering this person to appear in that Court on 1 September 2002. The prisoner made an application for temporary release to attend this hearing and this application was refused. However, he was escorted to the court by two prison officers from Loughan House. It is standard practice that persons serving sentences in open centres are not handcuffed during such escorts. This reflects their low security status.

I would also like to confirm that the Director General of the Prison Service has assured me that this person was accompanied by prison staff at all times while outside the confines of Loughan House on this escort. Indeed it is the case that this escort was conducted in line with standard operational procedures and the prisoner was accompanied at all times by prison staff and was not, in fact, afforded any preferential treatment.

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